Wingfest London 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

The world’s biggest chicken wing festival returns to London this July, and it’s landing exactly where you’d want it: inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, at London Stadium, over three days across the last weekend of the month. Wingfest London 2026 runs from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July, and if the previous editions are anything to go by, it’s going to be loud, crowded, extremely messy and absolutely worth it.

Dozens of traders, thousands of wings, live music, competitive eating challenges, and the particular camaraderie that comes from spending a full day outdoors eating things with your hands. Wingfest is one of those events that’s hard to explain to people who haven’t been and immediately obvious to people who have.

We’re in the same park. Different food. A thousand games. Come and find us.

What is Wingfest?

Wingfest is an annual chicken wing festival that bills itself as the largest of its kind in the world. The London edition brings together dozens of food traders – from established restaurant brands to independent operators and street food specialists – all competing to serve the best chicken wings across a three-day outdoor festival.

Beyond the wings themselves, the festival features a competitive eating element where traders enter their best recipes for a public vote, live music throughout the three days, and the general festival atmosphere that comes from several thousand people in a very good mood working through a lot of food. The London Stadium location at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park gives it a proper venue with good infrastructure – transport links, open space, the park setting.

Tickets are available at wingfest.co.uk. The festival is an outdoor event and runs rain or shine, so check the forecast and dress accordingly – this is London in July, which means bring a layer just in case.

Getting the Most Out of Wingfest Weekend

Three days means you don’t have to do it all in one hit. Friday is typically the quietest day – if you have flexibility, it’s worth considering. Saturday is the peak day with the biggest crowds. Sunday tends to have a more relaxed energy, especially later in the day as the weekend winds down.

Go hungry. The wing count tends to creep up across a session in a way that catches people off-guard – small portions from each trader add up faster than expected. Give yourself a couple of hours minimum to do it properly.

The voting element is part of the fun. Try things you wouldn’t normally order, give your verdict, and engage with the traders – most of them are genuinely passionate about their recipes and will talk you through the process if you ask.

Draughts Stratford: Before or After (or Both)

We’re inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at 5 Aquatics Walk – around a ten-minute walk from London Stadium where Wingfest is staged. The combination of the two works naturally as a full day: games and food at Draughts, then across to the festival, or festival first and then something more structured to end the evening.

Our kitchen runs its own menu worth knowing about. Korean fried chicken, short rib birria tacos, double smashed burgers, halloumi fries, nachos, mac and cheese. Not wings – but not trying to be. It’s a proper sit-down meal cooked fresh, ordered at the table while you play. If you want a real meal before heading into the festival, we’re the place to come.

After the festival, a table at Draughts is a good place to decompress. The games library is 1,000-strong, the bar is well-stocked, and the energy of a post-festival evening tends to land well around a game. Our hosts will find the right thing quickly.

Practical Tips for Wingfest 2026

• Book your Draughts table in advance – July weekends fill up, and Wingfest weekend in particular
• Arrive at the festival early on Saturday if you want to avoid peak crowd times
• Wear clothes you don’t mind getting sauce on. This is not a metaphor
• Stratford station is served by the Central, Jubilee and Elizabeth Lines, DLR and National Rail – the most efficient way in from most of London
• The walk from Draughts to London Stadium through the park takes around ten minutes – factor that into your timings
• Wingfest is an outdoor event – pack for British July weather, which could mean anything
  
  

How to Find Us

Draughts Stratford is at 5 Aquatics Walk, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20 2AS. A ten-minute walk from London Stadium through the park. Book your table at draughtslondon.com – seriously, book in advance for a Wingfest weekend. The park is busy, we get busy, and walk-in availability is not guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions